Sweden shocked the United States 5-4 in a sudden-death penalty shootout Sunday to surge right into a Women’s World Cup quarter-final in opposition to Japan and consign the defending champions to their earliest-ever exit. The title-holders dominated the opening 90 minutes however a breakthrough proved elusive with Swedish goalkeeper Zecira Musovic making some startling saves to maintain her facet alive. With the impasse remaining after extra-time it went to penalties in Melbourne — and the strain went up one other notch. Sweden’s Nathalie Bjorn was the primary to overlook, skying excessive, just for Megan Rapinoe to do the identical. Rebecka Blomqvist’s effort was saved, once more placing the USA within the driving seat, just for Sophia Smith to blast vast.

When Kelley O’Hara hit the submit, it was all right down to Sweden’s Lina Hurtig, who made certain — however solely after VAR dominated her kick had crossed the road.

The dramatic conclusion leaves the match with out the 2 top-ranked sides after Germany’s group-stage departure, with the Swedes now thought of among the many chief frontrunners because the world quantity three.

Peter Gerhardsson’s facet, who’re striving to raised their third-place end in 2019, subsequent face the 2011 champions Japan.

But it was a bitter blow for the USA and an inglorious finish for Rapinoe, the Golden Boot winner on the 2019 match. She will retire on the finish of the season.

Expectations have been excessive coming into the match for the four-time champions, who had made at the very least the semi-finals at each World Cup.

But they by no means seemed as much as the duty within the group stage, with only one win, in opposition to Vietnam.

This devastating early exit shall be seen as a serious underachievement.

Vlatko Andonovski made two adjustments from the crew that drew 0-0 in opposition to Portugal, with Emily Sonnett in for suspended midfielder Rose Lavelle and Trinity Rodman most well-liked up entrance to Lynn Williams.

Sweden rested 9 gamers of their final group recreation, however reverted to their strongest XI with strikers Fridolina Rolfo and Stina Blackstenius returning and Musovic getting the nod as goalkeeper forward of Jennifer Falk.

After either side sized one another up, the USA labored the primary clear probability on six minutes, however Andi Sullivan’s drive from the sting of the field skewered vast.

A affected person Sweden created area early on, notably on the flanks, and despatched in a collection of teasing crosses to make use of their top benefit, to no avail.

As the sport wore on the US assumed midfield management and a livewire Rodman went near the opener after 18 minutes, letting fly from distance with Musovic palming away.

She was pressured into an analogous cease minutes later, once more from Rodman, however may solely watch as a towering Lindsey Horan header rattled the crossbar in one of the best alternative of a vigorous half the US dominated.

The title-holders carried the momentum into the second stanza and solely a world-class reflex save from Musovic saved Sweden on stage phrases, turning a vicious strike from Horan across the submit at full stretch.

It was all of the United States and a aim appeared inevitable, however Musovic once more saved Sweden within the recreation with one other cracking save within the 88th minute, this time from Alex Morgan.

She pulled off two extra sensible saves in extra-time to take the match to penalties.

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